I would just like to see the people of the armed services get paid more, so that more people would look at it as a viable option. I think that the problem with the lack of people interested in military careers is in direct relation to the poor pay that the men and women of the armed services take home. If we paid our military men and women better, I don't think we would have to even think of drafting people.

We have a community service hour requirement at my high school as well, but it is 100 hours over the course of 4 years. While it's good, it's no where near the amount of hours that I would like to see performed. This a completely different subject, though, for another thread... :)

the pay isn't that bad anymore actually . . . especially for officers.

Having lived through the draft (literally), I agee with the above.

The situation we have now is one of almost turning a reservist or National Guard member into a full time soldier. That's unfair in every respect.

We have cut the military budget so much that we must rely too much on the Reserve and Guard components.

The Average Joe looking to enter the military isn't going to be an officer. Be that as it may, I still think both officers and enlisted members of the armed services should be paid more. They put their lives at risk to protect our freedoms. Call me crazy ;)

Cluey, you're crazy!

That would be a very bad idea...unless there was a serious, and NECESSARY war pending...not like the one we have now IMO!

I agree -- unless there is a war going on that the vast majority of the population agrees with, it would pretty much be political suicide to suggest reinstating the draft or even universal military service. Especially right now, because the majority of those opposed to the war in Iraq brought up the point that going into Iraq would stretch our military too thin -- it's going to be more of an "I told you so" thing at this point than anything else.

Like it or not the government is probably going to have to work with what they have, especially for the time being.

As for members of our armed services being paid poorly:

The actual take-home pay may be low, but the benefits (IMHO) more than make up for that, and make the life of an active-duty family financially more comfortable than that of a civilian family with the same salary.

1. Housing allowance if you choose to live off-base. There is on-base housing for singles and families. In the event that you want to buy a home, the VA offers low-interest loans without a down payment.
2. Subsidized healthcare during active duty and retirement. Even if one did not make a career out of the Armed Forces, he or she still has the benefits of the Veterans Administration hospitals (which, granted, vary in quality).
3. Access to the Base Exchanges and Commissaries, which offer goods for a lower price than off-base.
4. Job security.

NCOs may make less than officers, but most don't have a college education. If you consider the benefits offered by the Armed Forces, despite the seemingly low salary, it's probably more than most 18 year olds with just a high school education could make.

Uhm the people that disagree with this war would more than likely disagree with any war that the US has been in.

Also many supporters of the draft are against the war in Iraq because they think that it creates equality since then the sons of even the advocates of the war will serve.

And Israel isn't the only country with mandatory service - there are many countries that do require it and most aren't at war even.

-Rudey

I think about my 18 year old little sister, and how she would be demolished in a war. She would have no chance. Poor girl. The draft sucks. I think we should use the Olympics as a form of war...

Gee, a lot of us in the 60's thought the draft sucked, too -- but it didn't seem to matter.

The problem with waiting for a major conflict before instituting a draft is that it takes a long time to gear up to begin the process -- then the draftees must be trained (basic, AIT, etc.) and by the time the first draftees enter the pipeline, probably at least a year has passed.

Unfortunately, for the draft to be effective, it must be ongoing.

Can we just dump our violent criminal population into these countries?

-Rudey
--Heavily armed of course

I completely disagree with the draft - at least right now - and ALWAYS disagree with any form of forced community/military service, whether it's to graduate from high school, get loans, whatever.

I dig Rudey's "dump the criminals" idea. But I think the cast of Barney and Friends should be included also. :)

and Britney too.

According to the Liberal/Conservatives or Conservative/ Libearls
some years back, "WE NEED TO CUT THE MILITARY BACK!".

This has been done ever since the Founding of This Country!

Every War from The American Revolution to today virtually had to conscript members to fight.

Remember the Main! Pearl Harbor. being the two last largest.

Now because of the idioticy of our duley elected Morons, we are and have been once again thrust into this same position, time and time again! Lets build the National Guard and Researves up, Citizen Soldiers.

Lets have wars in so many differnet parts of the world that people expect us to get into the middle of!

No, we have Familys, Businesses, Schools, who have lost productive people that mean so much to our economy!

These are the people dieing and leaving the same afore mentioned items.

Tempt people to Join The Military not force them to. They want me during Viet Nam and I could not go! Thank god, what a damn mess that was and how many people (Ours) were killed and left so many familys without Parents, or how many it screwed up!

While not in the Military, I was a Police Officer and went on the Streets during the Riotous years of the Late 60s and early 70s. Yes, that was a war, it was people shooting and killing each other!:(

There many young people if tempted to join, they will, as there is no central Home authority or School Authority that can give them the Dierction for life and they are lost!:eek:

Just how many of you have ever worn A Uniform or carried A Weapon? I venture to say damn few!:(